A Hernando police officer and the driver of a fleeing vehicle were both taken to a local hospital Friday after a pursuit on Interstate 55 ended in a head-on collision, according to the Hernando Police Department. The crash is the focus of an ongoing investigation, and the department says it has no further details to release at this time.
Hernando police pursuit began with reckless-driver calls
In a release posted to its Facebook page, the Hernando Police Department said the incident began after multiple callers reported a reckless driver traveling southbound on I-55. According to the department, reports indicated the vehicle had struck a guardrail in Southaven, was traveling in the median, and had nearly collided with several other vehicles while continuing through the area.
Hernando officers attempted a traffic stop near Commerce Street. The department says the driver refused to stop, and a pursuit followed.
Head-on collision in the southbound lanes
During the pursuit, police say the suspect drove northbound in the southbound lanes of I-55. That led to a head-on collision with a Hernando police officer’s vehicle. Both the suspect and the officer were transported to a local hospital for medical treatment.
The department did not release the names of the driver or the officer, the extent of anyone’s injuries, any charges, or how long lanes of the interstate were affected. Those details remain unknown.
What we know and what we don’t
Confirmed by police: a pursuit of a reckless driver on I-55 ended in a head-on crash involving a Hernando officer.
Confirmed by police: the suspect and the officer were both taken to a hospital.
Not yet released: names, conditions, possible charges, and the full timeline of the pursuit.
Drivers who use I-55 through DeSoto County should expect that traffic conditions can change quickly after incidents like this. Current road conditions are available from the Mississippi Department of Transportation’s traffic information service.
DeSoto County News will update this story when the Hernando Police Department or other agencies release more information. Any person charged in connection with this incident is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
